Loss of vision: NHRC notice to State

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that four persons who had undergone cataract surgery at the Kunnamkulam taluk hospital in the last three weeks had lost their eyesight.

The commission, in an electronic press note, observed that the press reports in this regard, if true, raised a serious issue of violation of rights to health of the victims. The commission, the release said, has issued notice to the Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Kerala, asking the State government to submit a report within four weeks. The commission has noted that more than a dozen cataract surgeries had been conducted at the taluk hospital between July 22 and August 5.